My vision had darkened but 'mentality' had only been gone out for a moment, instead I was floating in the white space I had first experienced when I woke up in this 'data world'.
[Welcome back doctor, you have been unconscious for 4 minutes and 33 seconds. It seems your avatar has temporarily been overloaded by the strange chemical within its system. You should be able to regain control momentarily.]
"I see... Did you see who attacked me? That shadow from the alleyway with the purple eyes." I asked.
[I could not, there was a strange form of a barrier that interrupted my scanning. Research shows that the barrier was made from the shadow element with a purpose to cloak oneself. It has no defensive properties nor offensive and only exist to hide oneself within the shadows.]
"Hmm... Maybe this man was the people that lady Silvia warned me about. The 'Ones against the Magi' or whatever"
[Likely to be so. The assassin seemed to have used a miniature form of a blowpipe to fire the small needles.]
"That must've been where the needles came from hmm... Any chance of finding out who they are?"
[No, there is not enough data.]
"Sigh... I guess there's nothing that can be done for now. Maybe I'll ask master and see if I can find out anything."
[The avatar is currently recuperating, an antidote has already been provided. You will be able to return and gain consciousness in 4 seconds.]
"Wait what 4 seconds? You could ha-"
[Initiating]
Then, the world started to distort and warp in towards a point.
After a moment's time of chaos, it started to clear up again and soon, it revealed the location I was in. I was laying upon a bed, staring up into a small lamp and surrounded by curtains.
"Ugh..." After connecting back with the senses of my avatar, the aching and the heat of my body hit me all of a sudden, forcing me to groan from the pain.
"Oh! You're awake!" A lady walked in through the curtains with a smile. "You almost died on us, an attempted murder in the capital for god's sakes. What nerves!"
"H-Hello... May I ask where I am?" I tried to get up but failed, realizing my arms had no strength.
"You're in the Eastern Hospital, you were hit with a strange poison that is causing your symptoms right now. Though a general antidote has been given, it seems the poison had other special properties in the magi's field." She explained.
"Special... Properties?" A.I didn't mention anything about this, was there a miscalculation? I thought it had been cured...
[There is indeed a strange chemical that is interacting with the mana inside your body. It is disrupting the normal circulation and flow of mana. This may explain the weakness you are currently feeling as your cells are not receiving the normal supply of mana. I will get to analyzing the chemical and find a solution asap. I apologize.]
'Hmm...Alright'
With great difficulty, I got up from the bed and stood up.
"Woah, you are clearly not in a situation to walk around." The lady warned. "Please lie back down, the doctors are still trying to figure out the poison."
"Are your doctors magi?" I asked.
"Uh...No. Why?" The lady, I now deduced that she was a nurse, replied.
"Then they won't be able to solve it. I can solve it on my own, let me leave." I started to pick up my items that had been placed besides my bed and started to check if anything was missing.
"Oh umm... Okay... Please do be careful." The nurse responded after realizing I was also a magus.
Magi and warriors, if I recall, were of a higher standing than royalty depending on their strength. Even the weakest ones enjoyed a privileged status and was the reason why many strived to become one.
"Oh right, payment for treatment. How much is it?" I asked after checking that all my things were here.
"Oh! Don't worry about that. Every government-run facility's services are fully paid for and are completely free. This hospital is included as well. Though you might have to visit... A private Magus Doctor for your condition."
"I see, thank you." I quickly stepped out of the hospital. Seeing that it was still nighttime and not too late, I quickly made my way back to the hotel except I had maintained the obex spell the whole way there in fear of being attacked again.
"Ugh." I crashed into my hotel bed in fatigue, even such a simple obex spell made me feel like I had gone through a whole day's worth of casting without rest.
Though feeling physically and mentally drained, I rested upon the bed whilst resisting the urge to sleep.
[Chemical has been analyzed, 2 solutions have been found.]
'Solutions huh... Alright tell me both solutions.'
[First solution is to fully destroy this avatar and creating a new one. This is a quick method but will reset you to the Cinders Village and all these belongings will stay here.]
'No. The Cinders Village is too far away and I have an urgent request to complete as well.'
[The second solution is a bit more complex. Because of this chemical, there is actually an excess amount of mana actively being created hiding within your core. Usually the generation of mana stops once the core is filled but the chemical seems to caused it to go beyond the limits. This is probably the heat you are feeling at this moment.]
'Alright, what's the solution then?
[If you forcibly infuse the core's mana into the organs and the surrounding tissue and then defuse them through the surface of the skin and onto the atmosphere, you should be able to create a special method of 'breathing' reminiscent of certain amphibians such as frogs who breath through their skin.]
'So... You want me to breathe mana through my skin? How would I even do that? And would I be able to cast magic like that?'
[Just give me the order and I can dedicate a part of my processes to constantly perform this action. As for casting magic, yes. The mana usually flows from your core and through the mana veins but it should actually increase in casting speed since it can directly skip the veins and flow out from your tissues. The downside is that you will only be able to control 3 access 'orbs' instead of 4.]
'Well... Do it. Being able to cast at all is better than not being able to cast. Hopefully I can find a solution from Lady Silvia...'
[Understood.]
Then.
I felt an intense amount of heat rise up from the center of my body and flow through my veins. The previously warm body suddenly heated up as my skin started to glow but soon dimmed down as well as the body quickly cooled down.
It felt... Strange. That was the only way I could describe it. I could actually feel the mana flowing out from the pores of my skin if I focused.
Wait...
'A.I'
[Yes doctor?]
'Could we theoretically... Breathe 'IN' the mana as well?'
[Humm... Theoretically it should be possible but testing may be required.]
'Let's test right now then!'
[Please I advise not to perform any rash actions at this current condit-]
'Oh shush!'
I quickly ran itno the bathroom, pointed my palms towards the bathtub and roared. "Aqua!" I pulled out as much mana as I could and started to fill the tub with water, sensing the mana inside me flow through and out from the flesh of my palms.
'A.I quickly 'breathe in' the mana!' I hurriedly ordered as I watched the rate of the water being created slowing down as the bathwater started to drain away.
[Testing initiated]
Then
Whooooosh!
I felt an immense amount of heat rushing in through my pores as the surrounding lights stared to dim down. I was visibly controlling the mana in the atmosphere and sucking it into my own body.
Gluglugluglug!
The creation of water sped up as soon the bathtub started to overfill as the rate of creation rose far above the rate at which the water drained away.
'Alright enough!' I told A.I as I stopped the creation of water. Sensing the access mana quickly leaving my systems.
"Did... Did I just do something amazing again?" I looked around at the now dimmed down lamps, some of which I noticed had actually gone out completely.
[It seems so doctor. This may provide a near-infinite source of mana for a short period of time and possibly more so depending on your location. Would you like to name this technique?]
"Naming a technique... I should do that yes. No need to rename multicasting since it existed already before but I'm sure a technique such as this had never existed..." I pondered.
"Infuse the mana within the body into the flesh and the diffuse it through the surface of the skin... Reverse the flow and intake the mana... Reverse... Refuse the mana..." I continued.
"Ha! Mana Refusion! I shall call it Mana Refusion!" I shouted out.
[A completely wrong use of diction but as you wish doctor. The technique will be named Mana Refusion, please mention the correct name when you wish for me to activate this technique.]
"Hahaha! I am a genius! Infinite mana!" I ignored the ramblings of A.I from the sheer excitement.
[No doctor, you just have a very capable assistant.]
"...That too."